Two Novel Oligosaccharides Formed by 1^F-Fructosyltransferase Purified from Roots of Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Abstract

  Two novel oligosaccharides, tetra-and penta-saccharides were synthesized by fructosyl transfer from 1-kestose to 4^G-β-D-galactopyranosylsucrose with a purified 1^F-fructosyltransferase of asparagus roots and identified as 1^F-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4^G-β-D-galactopyranosylsucrose, O-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-β-D-fructofurano-syl-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-D-glucopyranoside and 1^F(1-β-D-fructofuranosyl)₂-4^G-β-D-galactopyranosylsucrose, [O-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)]₂-β-D-fructofuranosyl-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. Both oligosaccharides were scarcely hydrolyzed by carbohydrase from rat small intestine.

  Human intestinal bacterial growth by 1^F-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4^G-β-D-galactopyranosylsucrose was compared with that by the tetrasaccharides, stachyose and nystose. Bifidobacteria utilized 1^F-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4^G-β-D-galactopyranosylsucrose to the same extent as stachyose or nystose. On the other hand, the unfavorable bacteria, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, that produce mutagenic substances did not use the synthetic oligosaccharide.